Ovarian Cyst with growth

[Lauren115]

In late November 2008, I went in to see my dr for my annual checkup. I am 51 years old. I had not had a period for about 10 months. Started menstruating heavily about 6 days before appointment. During routine ultrasound, he noticed a cyst on my righ ovary. Scheduled me to return in a month to see if it would be gone. Pap smear and all that normal. He did not seem concerned.
Started menstruating again on December 31...for about 4 days, medium flow. Headache and minor cramps...no big deal. Return visit on January 5. Cyst is still there, slightly larger, but now he sees something growing on it...like what? he says it could be fatty tissue, tumor...maybe serious, maybe not. I am scheduled for surgery on the 13th...I don't know where to turn for support. He plans to remove my right ovary and determine if it is malignant or not. If it is, I have to let him know if I want him to go ahead and remove more things while I am out because it would be "practical" to do it then while I am anesthetized. I am quite frightened. Have always been healthy. Please give me some direction or food for thought. Thank you.

[Laney8463]

Hi Lauren,
Just to claify. We are not referring to gynocolgists/obstetricians. Those are the ones who deliver babies. We are talking about gynocologic oncologists. They deal with advanced pelivc surgeries in women. They are the ones who have much more training in looking at and for cancer and doing complex pelvic surgeries. If your doc isn't a gynocologic oncologist, then I would suggest a second opinion by one. I don't think the gyn/onc's deliver babies but I could be wrong.
Take care
Laney

[Lauren115]

I have just returned from my pre op visit with my dr. I plan to post a picture of my ultrasound later today. He did not want to do the bllod test because it has a lot of flaws. He told me my cyst is not "complex" it is called a simple cyst with a tumor growing inside. The cyst itself is 6mm. His original plan was to remove the ovary and cyst and have a frozen section tested. If it returns positive, while I am still under anesthesia, he wanted to do a staging operation...that is remove my uterus, tubes, omentum, lymph nodes, appendix and some lining in my stomach...just in case it has spread...as a precaution - whether cancerous or not. I guess this is the protocal. I would be in the hospital for 2 or 3 days vs 6 hrs.
This is not acceptable to me.
I can't go under with the idea it might be a benign event, only to wake to having had a massive organ removal. I just can't do it. Call me silly...but the idea scares me to the depths of my soul.
So, together we came up with plan B. He will remove both of my ovaries and do  washings in my uterus and look for small bits of growth that can't be picked up by the ultrasound. Then he will send my "stuff" to the lab and let me know the results in two days, which will happen to be my birthday. Then if there is a malignancy, I will have to go back and have the major surgery. I can't believe I am writing this about myself. I am like a big baby here, so scared.
This plan seems more acceptable to me because I want to be able to absorb this at it happens...does that make sense?? Do a little research and feel more informed. It is amazing how fast you can learned when you feel slammed against the wall.

[newbeginnings134]

My 21 year old daughter was just found to have a 4 centimeter Mass on in her right ovary too. They are doing a second trans sonogram because the first doctor wants to be very sure it is a rare growth called a dermoid mass on top of an ovarian cyst before considering surgery. This mass that formed on top of the cyst can contain human cells such as cartilage, hair and teeth. It is almost alway benign. He did the same blood work on her too and it showed nothing. Surgery to remove the mass and a biopsy is the next step. Trying to keep her ovary is their goal since she is so young so she can have children one day. She just finished college and got a great job.  I am as worried as you..but they have assured us that 99% are benign God Bless, Ann

[Lauren115]

My dr is a gyn/onc and has done many of these surgeries over the years. He is actually thinking about giving up deliveries and only doing surgeries.
Thank you for your responses. I take comfort in waking up to this unexpected kindness and support this morning. I have an appt this morning and feel better prepared on what to ask him.

[Laney8463]

Hi there,
I too agree with the others. I suggest you get a second opinion from a gyn/onc. They are much more experienced in dealing with womens pelvic sugery than regular gynos.
They will most likely know more even by looking at the ultrasound pictures. We are not trying to scare you, but you only get one chance to get this right. 95% of cysts are benign, take some comfot in that. Also, cysts appear very differently on ultrasounds and it can be a very subjective science. When the doc says there is a mass attached to it, usually this is what makes a simple cyst (black mark on the ultrasound) into a complex cyst which is the gray area you refer to. Docs use these terms interchangeable and it scares the daylights out of people, mass, lesion, tumor ,cyst...they are pretty much interchangeable.
Try not to worry, but do not drop the ball on this one. Make informed decisions. Ask about the Ca-125 blood test, ask about the type of sugery they suggest, recovery times etc.
Remember 95% of these "buggers" are benign. We have all been through it and are here for you.
Take care and let us know how you make out today.
God Bless
Laney

[babypooh]

I second everything that Sandymac said and wanted to add that not all women get the sharp pains; it all depends on how the cyst is attached and if it's twisting the ovary.  Complex cysts can have different components; fat, blood, hair, teeth. They won't really know until they take it out, but those complex cysts are still benign most of the time. Try not to worry too much, you'll torture yourself. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Lauren115]

I lost my husband to brain cancer and in retrospect regret we did not spend much time exploring options, although they were limited. We just did whatever we were told and it all happened so fast. I did not feel like we had enough time to get informed enough to make decisions that would have been best for us. I feel like this is coming down the same way. I am letting my fear affect my judgement. My husband is not here to share the burden of this and I don't want to say anthing to my children right away (19 and 23). I cannot find any info on a mass that is on the cyst. Is that uncommon? I have an appt with the dr in the morning where we will discuss it more, but I want to go in there sounding intelligent and informed, not scared and ignorant.
Sandymac: when you first read my post, why did you say "Whoa"?

[Lauren115]

It is not the cyst I am worried about. It is the mass that is attached to it. The cyst looks black on the screen and the mass shows as greyish. It was not there last month. The dr is my ob/gyn. I trust him, but I am very scared...because of the mass. I wonder if I should think about it for a while first, or maybe get a second opinion. I do not have the sharp pains like the other women describe. My bladder has been weak, and I am kind of thick waisted, but I eat well....my menstrual cycle has been up and down.
Thank you for your kind reply.

[Sandymac]

Sorry.. almost forgot.. If there is even a suggestion of a malignancy, it really is best to have a Gyn/Onc. on hand. Not that I think you have cancer, but you might ask your Dr. if that is what he is planning.. The Gyn/Oncologists have that extra training and expertise that you would want. If one cannot be "there", at least have one on call. Down here in Fl., it isn't usually done unless there is a strong suspicion of malignancy. If they came to every procedure, they wouldn't have time to treat the patients that absolutely need their services, but at least ask if one is available..

Again, let us know and try not to worry too much..

Sandy

[Sandymac]

Well, until they go in to see what 's going on, it's very difficult to tell what exactly you're dealing with..When I first read your post I thought "whoa"... but then I read your age and realized that the options would be different. Did he suggest a CA-125 blood test? Now, those test aren't 100% accurate especially in premenopausal women, but for those a bit older, they seem to carry a bit more weight. There are lots of things though that will"skew" the results so Dr's don't like to rely on them too much . There are women on the Ovca forum that have ovarian cancer and have always had low CA-125 results . The reverse is true also.

In any case, please try not to worry too much as cysts , even in  older women, are still 95% benign. No doubt the laparoscopy will determine what type of cyst you are dealing with. If it is indeed the laparoscopy, it usually is out patient and not all that bad. The laparatomy is a little more detailed and takes a little more recovery time. If he is planning on a hysterectomy, of course that is major surgery and a whole different time line for recovery, etc.

Please let us know how things go,

Sandy